Method of and apparatus for making multiple-ply paper



E. B. FISH METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING MULTIPLE -PLY PAPER I Filed Nov; 1,, 192.1 s Shet's-Shef 1 npzmtoz ZZZ/0B. Fall,

aifoumi METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING MULTIPLE 'PLY PAPER Filed NOV. 1, 1921 3 Sheetssh et 2 d a PI l L 3vwntoz [5rd ZZ 2 5%;

May 19, 1925- E. B. FISH mawon OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING MULTIPLE PLY PAPER Filed Nov. 1, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 19, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

EZRA B. FISH, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKTIN'G MULTIPLE-PLY PAPER.

Application filed November 1, 1921.. Serial No. 512,148.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EZRA B. FISH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus forMaking Multiple-Ply Paper, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for making a strong and tough multiple-ply paper ofa character wherein the plies are united intimately and permanently and without requiring the use of an adhesive for the purpose, paper of this kind being adapted for use for vari ous purposes. The invention is particularly adapted for the manufacture of a permanently opaque multiple-ply paper suit-.

able for use in the making of photographic paper, it having outer plies or layers on its opposite sides which may be white or of other suitable color and adapted to receive the sensitized emulsions and an intermediate light intercepting ply or layer which is black or otherwise opaque or nonactinic, the plies of the sheet thus formed being permanently united so that they will not separate or blister when wet or treated in photo graphic developing, fixing and washing baths, and the sheet will always remain opaque. The primary objects of the invention are to provide a novel method whereby multiple-ply paper of the kind describedmay be manufactured inexpensively, in large quantities and of uniform quality and in a manner which otherwise meets the requirements of commercial. manufacture, and to provide an apparatus capable of efiiciently carrying out such metho a hand end of the-machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a. portion of the machine showing one of the devices for shaking the-web-forming wires of the machine, and

Figure 3 represents on agreatly enlarged scale a section through a sheet of photographic paper made by the method hereinafter described.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the difierent views. The present invention comprehends a method of making a sheet of strong and tough paper of any desired number of plies, the apparatus employed in the present instance for carrying out the method being adapted to produce a paper sheet made up of three plies. This apparatus in its preferred embodiment and as shown comprises a group of web-forming units A, B and C, on which the respective plies or layers are made, aunit D on which the respective plies or layers are brought together in superposed relation, and a unit E on which. the

assembled superposed plies or layers are.

roll, through the couch rolls, onto the drying cylinders and otherwise treated in the' manner in which ordinary paper is treated, in order toproduce the final finished paper. I Each of the web-forming units A, B and C is similar in its general construction to the Fourdrinier'machine commonly used in the manufacture of Ordinary paper, each unit comprising an endless wire or foraminous apron 1 which passes over end pulleys or rolls 2 at a regular speed during the operation of the apparatus, the upper stretch of this wire or apron being supported in a level flat form by idler rolls 3. The wire travels through a suitable tank or chamber, it receiving'paper pulp at one end from a trough 4 or other suitable means in a manner similar to that in which the paper pulp is supplied ordinarily to the Fourdrinier machine of the usual aper making apparatus, and overflow of thls pulp solution from the side or longitudinal edges of the wire or apron is prevented by the usual deckle straps 5. A save-all box 6 is preferably located below the upper stretch of the wire, as usual, to receive the portionsof the pulp solution which pass downwardly through the wire or apron. It will be understood that in the operation of the apparatus, the wires or apronswill be driven at a constant or definite rate of speed in relation to the rate ofspeed at which the pulp solution is flowed onto the upper stretches of the wires and that the web produced by the draining 7 of the liquid portion of the solution through understood that a separate web is produced by each of the units A, B and C, these webs being delivered from these units to the unit D on which they are assembled in superposed relation to make up the composite or multiple-ply paper strip.

In order to cause interlocking of the fibers of the pulp solution While these fibers are being deposited on the wire or apron of each of the units A, B and C, and'thus increase the strength and toughness of the re? spective layers, it is preferable to impart a shaking action in a substantially horizontal plane to the wire or apron of each of the units A, B and C and this shaking action may take place in a direction either laterally or longitudinally or both laterally'and longitudinally of the direction of travel of the web. As shown in the present instance, the wires of the units A and C receive a lateral shaking action while the Wire or apron for the intermediate unit B receives a longitudinal shaking action. For this purpose the frame 8 which carries one end of the wire or apron and the pulley or roller 2 at the pulp-receiving end of the unit, is supported on uprights 9 which are pivoted at so that they may shift laterally to the requisite degree, and the opposite end of the frame 8 is pivoted at 11 for the same purpose. The frame 8 of the intermediate unit B which receives a longitudinal shaking movement is pivotally supported by the legs 9 which permit such longitudinal movement of the frame 8, due to the arrangement of the pivots 10*,and the end of the frame 8 toward the web-discharge end of this unit has a limited longitudinal move ment relatively to the pin 11*. Any suitable means may be provided for imparting the shaking movements to the wires of the different units. In the present instance, the frame 8 of the units A and C has an upwardly projecting extension 12 which is connected by a link 13 to a crank pin 14 on a driv ng wheel 15, the latter being driven continuously during the operation of the apparatus by a belt or other suitable driving means. The frame. 8 of the intermediate unit B has a similar upward extension 12 which is connected by a link 18 to a crank pin 14 on a driving wheel 15 which also may be driven by a belt or other suitable means during the operation of the apparatus. By the arrangement described, the

extensions 12 on the frames 8 of the units A i termediate unit B will be arranged longitudinally of the direction of motion of the wire of this unit, or substantially so, thus causing the fibers of the different webs produced on the units A, B and C to be crossed and thus interlocked when these webs are assembled in. superposed relation to form the composite paper sheet.

The unit D to which the webs formed on the units A, B and C are delivered comprises preferably an endless wire cloth or J apron 16 similar to the wire or apron commonly used on Fourdrinier machines, this wire passing over pulleys or rollers 17 and having its upper stretch supported and guided by a series of idler rollers 18. Preferably the units A, B and C are mounted one above another but offset longitudinally, as shown in Figure 1, and the wire or apron of the unit D is arranged on an incline so that its upper stretch is in close proximity to the web-delivery ends of the units A, B and C. In practice, the wire or apron 16 will be driven regularly at a speed equal to or in definite relation to the speed of the wires of the units A, B and C. The web produced on the lowermost unit C will be delivered to the upper side of .the wire or apron 16 at a point near the lower roller or pulley 17 and this web will be carried upwardly with the ascending upper stretch of the wire or apron 16. The intermediate unit B will deliver the web produced by it onto the upper side of the web produced on the lowermost unit C. Similarly the paper web produced by the uppermost unit A will be delivered from this unit onto the upper side of the web produced by the intermediate unit B and these three webs in superposed relation to one another will be delivered from the upper end of the unit D to the unit E forfurther treatment, as will be hereinafter described.

In-order to effect or facilitate interlocking of the fibers of one web with the fibers of another web and thus increase the strength and toughness of the composite paper strip, a pair of fluid-injecting pipes 19 and 20 or equivalent means is provided for spraying water or other liquid or fluid onto the web or webs, prior to the superposing of another web thereon, whereby these webs are soft-- ened to an extent that will facilitate the final and complete interlocking of the fibers,

of the composite sheet and thus form a single unitary but composite paper sheet. As shown, the water or fluid injecting pipe 19 will supply water orliquid to the upper surface of the web delivered by theunit C to the unit D, prior to the superposing of 1- the web from the intermediate unit-B thereon and similarly the pipe 20 will supply water or other suitable fluid to the upper side of the web delivered to the unit 1) by. the unit B, prior tothe superposing of the 1 web .fromthe upper unit A thereon. I

The unit E is preferably employed to finally unite the webs to forma single strong, tough and unitary paper strip. This unit preferably comprises a table '21- over which 1 the composite web delivered from the upper end of the unit'D passes, and an endless wire cloth or apron 22 which is driven in unison with the wireor apron 16 and passes I over the top of the table 21 in the direction in which the web is advancing. The wire orapron 22, as shown, passes over rolls 23 and 24, the latter of which may be one of the couch rolls, as ordinarily used in paper making machines, the other couch roll 25 being arranged above the roll .24, as shown, these rolls being mounted in a frame .26

Means suchas a perforated pipe 27 isprefcrably arranged above the-wire or apron 22 at or near the web-receiving end of the. unit E, this pipe serving-to supply'water or other suitable liquid to the upper surface of the composite web made up of theweb produced on the units A, B and C. A pair of vacuum j boxes 28., is also preferably-provided beneath the upper stretch of the wire or apron 3, these vacuum boxes serving to draw liquid from or throughthe composite web resting on the wire or anron'immediatel'y above the {vacuum boxes, thereby not only uniting the layers compactly but also causing an in terlocking between the fibers of the different 1 webs or layers. To facilitate this interlocking action, the un tE and particularly the web-supporting wire thereof is preferably 9 subiectedto a shaking action. For example, :ias: shown, the wire of this unit and the related mechanisms thereof carried by the frame 26 may shake or vibrate laterally or in a direction transversely to the direction 551 ofimovement oftheweb, owing to the pivot'al mounting of the frame 26 at the points 29 and an extension 30 on the frame 26 may be, connected by'a link 31 to' the crank pin 32 of a driving wheel 33, this driving wheel operating during the operation of the apparatus to impart a lateral or transverse flshaking movement to the unit E and particularly to theweb-supporting wire thereof. In this arrangement. when used, the

" frame of the unit D maybe formed in two sections 34 and 35, .the upper section 35 which is adjacent to the unit E being pivoted at 36 to the lower section 34 and the upper 1 section 35 may be conveniently carried by- ,-roll used in the ordinary method of making paper, after which the web passes between the couch rolls 24 and 25 and onto the drying cylinders and may be further treated in the manner usual with ordinary paper.

The invention comprehends the manufacture of multiple-ply paper of different kinds and adapted for various uses where a strong and tough paper is' required ,or desirable, the preferred method of manufacture being substantially as follows: A paper web is produced initially from pulp solution by each of thetunits A, B-andC. These individual paper webs are delivered onto the wire of the unit D so that; these individual webs are assembled in superposed relation to one another but without the application of pressure thereto. To facilitate interlocking of the fibers of the different layers formingthe composite web or paper strip, water or other suitable liquid or fluid issupplied to the surface of each web prior to the sur.

perposing of another web thereon. The

composite web received by the unit E and I while uncompressed, is united as to its constituent webs by subjecting the composite web to a suction action whichwithdraws the liquid or fluid contained by it and pref-' erably an additional supply of liquid orfluid is flowed onto the upper surface of the I composite web and this liquid also is drawn through and withdrawn from the composite web by the suction boxes, this latter action upon the composite-web while still uncompressed causing interlocking of the fibers of the'diiferent webs or layers, after which the composite web is subjected to the com- 3 pressing ac-tionof a dandy roll, then to the usual couch rolls and may be further treated and finished as may be-desired or required.

The method is particularly adapted for the manufacture commercially of photographic paper of the kind which isfsensitized on both sidesthereof with an intervening opaque layer. In producing photographic paper of this kind, the procedure may be the same as that hereinbefore de- I scribed, with the exception, however, that the pulp supplied to the units A and C will be of a kind suitable for the making of white paper, while the pulp supplied to the intermediate unit B will beof an opaque nature,

as, for example, as may be produced by incorporating a suitable kind and quantity of opaque or non-actinic coloring matter of a permanent nature with such pulp. In consequence, the opaque web produced by the unit B and delivered to the unit D will be interposed between the white paper webs produced and delivered by the units A and C and as the individual webs produced by the units A, B and C are sufficiently set when delivered by their respective units to maintain substantially their structural form, there will be no intermixing of the opaque fibers of the intermediate web with the white fibers of the outer webs, althou h the fibers of the intermediate and outer we s will be interlocked in the zone of their contacting faces to an extent sufficient to interlock the webs to form a unitary structure, without requiring the use of paste or other adhesive.

Figure 3 represents diagrammatically and on a greatly enlarged scale, a section through a double-sided photographic paper capable of being produced by the method and apparatus hereinbefore described. a and 0 represent the outer layers produced by the webs formed in the units A and C, these outer layers being white, while 6 rep resents the interposed opaque layer produced by the web formed in the unit B. a; and y represent sensitized emulsions or coatings applied to the outer faces of the outerlayers "a and c.

The method and apparatus herein described enables multiple-ply paper to be produced on a large scale and with uniformity and also with substantially the same facility as the manufacture of ordinary single-ply paper, and the plies of the paper will be united intimately and permanently without the use of a paste or other adhesive. Multiple-ply paper suitable for various purposes may be provided inexpensively, such for example, as paper sheets having a relatively coarse or inexpensivequality of fiber forming the intermediate body and higher quality of fiber for the outer or facing layers. The invention is particularly applicable to the manufacture of photographic paper having both sides thereof sensitized, such paper, according to the present invention having an intermediate ply or body of an opaque or light-intercepting character and outer plies or facings of a nature suitable to receive the sensitized photographic emulsions, the different plies of the composite paper being so united by the interlocking of the fibers thereof that separation of the plies is prevented without the necessity of using paste or other adhesive, and furthermore, the paper will withstand wetting or soaking in a developing, fixing or washing bath or similar treatment without separation of the plies or blistering of its surface.

The present invention enables multiple ply paper to be manufactured on a commer'- tion of a paper having a differentnumber of plies; for example, in the manufacture of photographic paper having one side only sensitized, as for instance, photographic post cards, visiting cards or the like, a body or backing ply may be employed in conjunction with a facing ply on one side only, in which case only two of the units A, B

' and C would be used, the two plies however bein united and otherwise treated as hereinbe ore described.

I claim as my invention 1. The method of making multiple-ply paper which comprises formingindividually a plurality of wet paper pulp webs, assembling the webs while wet in superposed relation and agitating and thereby causing interengagement ,of the fibers of the superposed webs while the latter are wet and uncompressed to form a unitary composite per sheet.

2. The method of making multiple-ply paper which comprises forming separately a plurality of individual wet paper pulp webs, assembling the webs in superposed relation while wet, agitating'the superposed webs and thereby causing interengagement of the fibers of the superposed webs while the latter are wet and uncompressed, and then uniting the superposed webs to form a unitary composite paper sheet.

3. The method of making multiple-ply paper which comprises concurrently flowing paper pulp onto web-forming aprons to form separately a plurality of individual wet paper pulp webs, superposing said webs while wet and free of compression, and shaking said superposed webs while wet and free of compression to form a unitary composite paper sheet.

4. The method of making multiple-ply paper which comprises forming individually a plurality of wet paper pulp webs, flowing a liquid onto the respective webs, superposing the webs, shaking the superposed webs, and finally uniting them permanently to produce a unitary composite multiple-ply paper sheet.

5. The method .of making multiple-ply paper which comprises forming a plurality of individual wet paper pulp webs, flowing a liquid onto the respective webs, su-

llU

perposing the webs While wet and free of compression, shaking the superposed web the superposed webs and uncompressed webs and finally uniting permanently to form a unitary paper sheet.

6. The method of making multiple-ply paper which comprises flowing paperpulp onto web-forming'aprons to form a plurality of individual wet paper pulp webs and shaking said aprons in relatively different directions during the formation of said webs, and subsequently uniting said webs in superposed relation to form a unitary multiple-ply paper sheet.

7. The method of making multiple-ply. paper which comprises flowing paper pulp onto web-forming aprons to form a plurality of wet paper pulp webs and shaking said aprons during the formation of the webs, supplying fluid to said webs after they have been formed, superposing the webs, shaking the superposed webs while wet and uniting the webs toproduce a-unitary multiple-ply paper sheet. x

8. The method of ma-king multiple-ply paper which comprises forming separately a plurality of individual wet paper pulp webs, superposing said webs to form a composite web, supplying liquid to the composite web, and withdrawing such liquid from the composite web.

9. The method of making multiple-ply paper which comprises forming a plurality of wet paper pulp webs, superposing -said webs to form a composite web, supplying liquid to the composite web, and drawing such liquid through and withdrawing it from the composite web.

10. The method of making comprises forming a plurality of wet .paper pulp webs, superposing said webs while wet to form a composite'web, and supplying liquid to the composite web and w1thdrawing such liquid therefrom while the web is subjected to ashaking action.

11. The method of making paper which comprises forming a plurality of wet paper pulp webs, supplying liquid to some of said webs after the formation thereof has been completed, superposing said webs to form a composite web, shaking the superposed webs to cause union of the fibres of the different superposed webs, and withdrawing liquid from the composite web to form it into a unitary structure.

. 12. The method of making paper which comprises forming aplurality of individual wet paper pulp webs, su erposing said webs to form a com osite we supplying liquid between the in ividual webs and to the topsurface of the com osite web, and withdriwing such liqui from the composite we 1 13. The method of making paper which comprises forming a. plurality of individual paper which wet paper pulp webs, superposi-ng saidwebs to form a composite web, 'and supplying liquid to the contactingsurfaces of the individual webs and' to the top surface of the composite web and withdrawing such liquid therefrom while the composite web is subjected to a shaking action.

14-. The method of making paper which comprises concurrently flowing paper pulp onto web-forming aprons, to separately form a plurality of individual wet paper pulp webs, shaking said aprons in relatively different directions during the formation of the respective webs thereon, superposing said webs while wet and free from compression to form acomposite web, supplying liquid to the contacting faces of the individual webs and to the upper surface of locking the fibers of the superposed individual webs to form a unitary composite web. I 1

16. The method of making paper which comprises forming two wet white paper pulp webs and a wet opaque paper pulp web, superposing said webs with the opaque web interposed between the white webs while said webs are wet and uncompressed, and shakingand thereby interlocking the fibers of the different webs to unite them permanently into a unitary composite multiple-ply paper sheet.

17. Paper making apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of wet web forming machines operative to produce individual wet paper pulp Webs, an apron arranged to receive the webs from said wa chines and to assemble them in superposed relation, means for supplying liquid to the webs, and meansforshaking said apron to unite the webs to form a unitary composite multiple-ply pa er sheet.

in combination, a plurality of wet web form'- ing machines operative to produ e and dc 18. Paper ma ing apparatus comprising,

liver individual wet-paper pulp webs, an

apron mounted to travel past the web delivery ends of' said machines and to receive and assemble the webs in superposed relation, means arrangedto supply water to the lower webs prior to the superposing of other webs thereon, and means for shaking said apron. j I i 19. Paper making apparatus com rising, in combination, a plurality of wet we forming machines having aprons o rative to produce individual wet paper pu p webs, an

other webs thereon, means for supplying liquid to the upper surface of the composite web, and means for withdrawing such liquid from the composite web.

20. Paper making apparatus comprising, in combination, aplurality ofwet web form- 'ing machines having aprons operative to produce individual wet paper pulp webs, means for shaking the aprons of said machines in relatively dilierent directions during the formation of the webs thereon, and means for assembling the individual webs in superposed relation and for uniting said webs to form a unitary composite web.

21. Paper making apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of wet web forming machines operative to produce individual wet paper pulp webs, a travelling apron to receive the individual webs and to assemble them in superposed relation, means for supplying liquid to the upper side of the superposed webs, means for withdrawing such liquid at the lower side of the superposed webs, and means for shaking the superposed webs during such supply and withdrawal of liquid.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

-EZR A B. FISH. Witnesses: K v

CHAS. A. SCHWAB, ORVILLE MABRY. 

